Are Food Allergies & Sensitivities Hijacking?

Permission to reproduce given by the ICPA & Kelly Hayford, C.N.C.

When most people think of allergies they think of breaking out in hives, a rash or having some other immediate, dramatic reaction. While that’s sometimes the case with food allergies, more often it’s not. The nuances of food intolerances are not completely understood, but we do know that there are essentially three different kinds of reactions.

One is said to be a classic allergic response in which the body exhibits an immediate antibody reaction. The other is often referred to as a food sensitivity, in which the immune system is also triggered but in a slower, less dramatic way. It can also happen that a person doesn’t have an immune response at all, but a particular food is nevertheless wreaking havoc on their body.

The problem of food sensitivities is quickly gaining in recognition as it has become widespread, and is associated with a multitude of symptoms and health conditions. As a result, it has become common practice for the terms food allergy, sensitivity, intolerance or reaction to be used interchangeably and refer to any one of these three scenarios. The bottom line is that no matter what you choose to call it, we’re talking about foods that don’t agree with your body.

Some experts estimate that 1 out of 3 people suffer from one or more food allergies, the majority of which go undiagnosed. I believe this is a conservative estimate as it only accounts for full-blown food allergies. Many people are eating foods—especially wheat, dairy, corn, soy and sugar—that are causing them digestive problems, constipation, inflammation, congestion, sinus problems, depression, and more. Although they may not show a full-blown allergy to these foods, they are nevertheless sensitive to them on other levels.

Accounting for food intolerances is especially important for children because they are even more sensitive. There are so many infants and toddlers for example, who spend the first few years of their lives suffering needlessly from a host of conditions, especially recurrent ear infections and digestive disturbances which are frequently remedied by eliminating offending foods.

Food Sensitivity Symptoms

Common symptoms associated with food allergies and sensitivities

Include but are not limited to: acne, anxiety / depression, arthritis /

inflammation, asthma / hayfever, ADD / ADHD, autism, bedwetting,

bronchitis, candida (yeast,) chronic fatigue, Chron’s & celiac disease,

Colitis / IBS, diabetes, ear infections, eczema / psoriasis, gallbladder

problems, headaches/migraines, hormonal imbalance, hyperactivity,

learning disorders, mood swings / brain fog, multiple sclerosis,

schizophrenia, sinusitis, sleep disorders

Note: After switching to raw dairy products from grass-fed cows, some people’s sensitivities to dairy subside.